Life saving implements

ABSTRACT

Implement for life saving purposes including a line securely fixed to the bottom of a narrow elongated bag open at one end and containing a weight and being intended to enclose the line and to accompany the line when it is thrown and being adapted to run from the bag, the free end of the line being held, for example, by the thrower.

United States Patent Lindqvist [45] July 18, 1972 [54] LIFE SAVINGIMPLEMENTS [56] References Cited [72]- lnventor: Lars-Hakim Lindqvist,Solstigen 1, Salt- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS sjobaden, Sweden1,123,878 2/1962 Germany ..9/14 903,198 8/1962 heat Britainm. ...9/14[221 June 302,898 11/1968 Sweden ..9/14

[21] Appl. No.: 46,669

Primary Exammer-Trygve M. Bllx Attorney-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn &Macpeak [30] Foreign Application Priority Data 57 AB TRA T June 18, 1969Sweden ..8726/69 1 s C Implement for life saving purposes including aline securely 52 U.S. C1 .1. ..9/14 fixed the elmgated bag end [51] In.CL B63 9/26 and containing a weight and being intended to enclose theline [58] Field gg/l4 and to accompany the line when it is thrown andbeing adapted to run from the bag, the free end of the line being held,for example, by the thrower.

15 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure LIFE SAVING IMPLEMEN'IS The inventionrelates to an implement for assisting and life saving purposes,including a line and a storage and handling means securely attached toone end thereof.

Life buoys provided with an appropriate length of line are often usedfor rescue purposes. When using a rescue device of this nature the lifebuoy is thrown towards the distressed subject in the water, whereafterthe distressed subject is hauled into land or on board a boat by meansof the line. Under other circumstances, casting lines having a weightsecured to one end thereof can be used, for example, in wintertime, inconnection with ice sports to rescue a distressed subject from a hole inthe ice or, in summertime, to transfer a line from boats to a jetty orto another boat, for example for the purpose of towing the same. In thelatter instances, the line is thrown weighted with a weight to thebridge or to the distressed boat, whereafter a heavier line istransferred to said boat by means of the throwing line.

Life buoys and throwing lines are cast by gathering the line in loops ofsuitable size, whereafter the life buoy or weight is thrown in theintended direction, pulling out the line as it travels through the air.The cast of looping the line and throwing it to the distressed subjecttakes a considerable length of time and requires a special technique, ifthe desired length of throw is to be achieved and if the line is to runout smoothly. A well practiced technique is required, especially whencasting from small boats, if the line is to be prevented from fasteningin one of the many stays, sheets, spars and the like distributed arounda boat, while the line runs out. It is normally necessary to makeseveral casts before the life buoy or weight reaches the intendedtarget. Since, however, maneuvers on board ships must normally be madevery rapidly an unsuccessful cast may have undesirable consequences.Furthermore, a renewed cast is more difficult to effect than the firstone, since the line is normally wetted on the first cast. Anunsuccessful cast in wintertime has an added disadvantage, since a wetline readily freezes during the continued handling of the line.

The object of the present invention is to provide a life savingimplement which can be manipulated with a minimum of technique. Thisobject is achieved in accordance with the invention in that arranged onone end of the line is a narrow elongated bag open at one end andcontaining a weight and being adapted to enclose the line and follow thesame during a cast while the line runs out of the bag, the free end ofthe line being held, for example, by the thrower.

The weight is suitably arranged on the bottom of the bag and, in orderto prevent the bag from sinking when thrown to a distressed subject inthe sea, it is suggested in accordance to the invention that the bag beprovided with a buoyant member. The buoyant member is suitably arrangedbetween the bottom of the bag and the weight, whereby the bag floats inthe water with the bottom upwards. The buoyant member suitably consistsof a cellular plastic material, the further advantage being gained thatthe weight is prevented from damaging the subject with a successfulcast, since the soft cellular plastic material serves to dampen theimpact.

In order that an implement constructed in accordance with the inventionis able to serve effectively as a life saving line, it is suggested thatthe bag be constructed in a manner whereby a distressed subject caneasily take hold of the same, to which ends the bag can expediently beprovided at the bottom thereof with a band or strap in the form of aneye which can be grasped by the distressed subject. By means of asuitably mounted spring or some other resilient means, the eye when inan unloaded condition can be brought to take a position in which thedistressed subject can readily pass a hand therethrough, while on theother hand, the eye is drawn around the wrist of the distressed subjectwhen a load is applied to the eye. As will be described hereinafter, thebag is also provided with means for closing the open end and the line isprovided with stop means which are adjustable to different positionsalong said line, preventing the line from sliding from the bag when thebag is closed. The line is also provided with hooks and like objects tofacilitate storage and handling of the same.

\Vlth a life saving implement constructed in accordance with theinvention the line, when the implement is stored in a position ofreadiness, it is well protected against any unfavorable action of rain,sunlight and the like simultaneously as the same can be easily handledboth in the position of readiness and while in use. The life savingimplement according to the present invention can also replace both lifebuoys and conventional casting lines. The implement can be thrownextremely easily, even against the wind, whereas life buoys, forexample, are readily caught by the wind. The bag, as opposed to theweight of a casting line, does not sink in the water nor does it floataway from a distressed subject in rough weather, as would a life buoy.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail withreference to the accompanying drawing, additional characteristicfeatures of the invention and advantages associated therewith beingdisclosed in conjunction with the description.

The drawing illustrates a line 1 according to the invention, the linesuitably being made of an artificial fiber having a density whichpermits it to float in water. One end of the line 1 is securely mountedin the bottom of a bag 3, which is suitably made of a plastic treatedfabric and given a glaring color which is visible from long distances.Arranged in the bottom of the bag 3 is a weight 2 and buoyant element 7,the buoyant element 7 being arranged nearest the bottom of the bag. Atthe bottom of the bag is also arranged a strap 8, intended to serve as agripping means for a person in distress during life saving operations.The belt is suitably arranged in a manner whereby it passes through thebottom of the bag and secured to one end of the line 1. The strap 8 isheld in an open position during an unloaded condition by spring means 14arranged at the attachment points of the strap 8 to the bag 3.

When the implement is held in readiness, the line 1 is stored within thebag 3 and the bag is closed by means of a strap 9 arranged at its openend 4. A portion 5 of the free end of the line projects out of the bagand the line is prevented from being drawn from the bag 3 by means of astop member 10 arranged on the line 1 and adjustable to differentpositions along the line. The life saving implement of the inventionfurther presents two hooks arranged on the line, of which hooks one 1 1is secured to the free end of the line 1, while the other hook 13 issecured some distance from the end of the line secured in the bag. Thefirst mentioned hook I 1 then can be used, for example, by an iceskater, where the life saving implement is carried in readiness aroundthe waist of the skater or over one shoulder. In this case, the hook 11is connected to the strap 8. Owing to the fact that the cast stop member10 can be adjusted in different positions along the line 1, the eyeformed by the bag 3 and the free end of the line 1 can easily beregulated to the desired size. The other hook 113 can be used in asimilar manner during life saving operations, whereby a distressedsubject passes a portion of the line around its waist and connects thehook to the strap 8.

When a life saving implement in accordance with the invention is to bemade ready, the line 1 is inserted into the bag 3 length by length,wherewith the line can be inserted into the bag without twisting theline. This is of extreme importance to the functioning of the implementand constitutes a considerable difference with regard to a line attachedto life saving buoys or throwing weights. When these latter lines are tobe looped prior to a cast being made the line must be twisted throughapproximately one revolution around its longitudinal axis, so that theloops can be placed adjacent each other without the different loopsbecoming twisted in relation to each other or engaging with each other.Such twisting of the line about its longitudinal axis, however, israised to a disadvantage when casting the line, in that kinks arereadily formed therein. In order to obviate the necessity of twistingthe line according to the invention when inserting it into the bag it isimportant, however, that the width of the bag is not too great. Thewidth of the bag should not therefore exceed approximately 25 times thediameter of the line.

Consequent to inserting the line into the bag and closing the bag bymeans of the strap 9, the implement can be subjected to heavy handlingwithout disturbing its position of readiness. This is not the case withconventional lines for similar purposes, with which the arranged loopsreadily tangle with one another subsequent to having been stored forsome period of time, which necessitates removing such lines periodicallyand recoiling the same to retain the condition of readiness.

When casting an implement constructed according to the invention it isonly necessary to release the strap 9 which closes the opening for thebag 3, whereafter the thrower takes the bag by the free end thereof andwith a pendular movement of the throwing arm, and thereby also of thebag, throws the bag in the intended direction while retaining the holdon the free end of the line. In this way, the line is prevented fromrunning out over the stationary objects in the vicinity of the throwerbut serves, to a certain extent, as a throwing weight while it runs outof the bag.

The stop 10 may comprise a knot on the line or, for certain purposes,may be in the form of a spike like member, for example to facilitatelife saving operations on ice. In this connection the stop means,subsequent to a successful cast, can be placed on the ice, whereafterthe person manipulating the implement can use the stop member as a spikewhen the distressed subject is to be hauled from a hole therein. Theperson manipulating the implement places one foot on the stop member,thus obtaining a good grip in the ice with the spikes 15.

It is particularly suitable to design the stop member in the form of aring of certain width in a manner whereby the width is varied from asmallest width to a largest one situated diametrically opposite thesmallest width. This design prevents the stop member, when locatedwithin the bag, from hooking in the line and causing kinks therein ordamage the bag.

An implement constructed in accordance with the invention is thus easyto handle, both when occupying its conditional readiness and when beingused for assisting people in distress. It has a particularly wide fieldof use.

Although the invention has been described with reference to oneembodiment thereof it can be varied within the scope of the accompanyingclaims.

What I claim is:

l. A device to assist in manually throwing a line for life saving andthe like comprising:

an elongated bag, having an opening, made of a flexible material;

a length of line capable of being stored in short loops within the bagadjacent the bag opening, and fastened at the bottom of the bag;

a weighted member relatively heavier than the bag being arranged closeto the bottom of the bag to assist in the throwing balance of the bag,and

a soft buoyant member interposed between the bottom of the bag and theweight thereby the bag is thrown so that the weighted end is foremost inthe direction of travel and the open end is rearrnost so that the lineis sequentially unlooped and leaves the bag during the motion.

2. A device as in claim 1, further including a fastener attached to thebag adjacent the open end for closing the bag for storage.

3. A device as in claim 1, further including gripping means positionedexternally on the bag adjacent the weighted end.

4. A device as in claim 1, further including a hook on the free end ofthe line.

5. A device as in claim 2, further including a stop device on the lineto prevent the line from leaving the bag when the fastener closes thebag.

6. A device as in claim 3, further including a hook on the line at a setdistance from the weight and adapted to be connected to the grippingmeans to form a loop whereby a person in distress can secure himself byforming the loop about his 7. A device as in claim 3, where the grippingmeans includes a strap member and a spring for maintaining the strapmember in an open loop position for easy grabbing.

8. A device as in claim 5, where the stop device is a ring.

9. A device as in claim 5, where the stop device has at least one spikemember.

10. A device to assist in manually throwing a line for life saving andthe like comprising: i

an elongated bag, having an opening, made of a flexible material;

a length of line capable of being stored in short loops within the bagadjacent the bag opening, and fastened at the bottom of the bag;

a weighted member relatively heavier than the bag being arranged closeto the bottom of the bag to assist in the throwing balance of the bag;

a fastener adapted to close the bag;

a stop member attached to the line and capable of preventing the linefrom being withdrawn when the bag is closed by the fastener, and

a soft buoyant member interposed between the bottom of the bag and theweight, the opening dimension of the bag being no larger than 25 timesthe line diameter, whereby the bag is thrown so that the weighted end isforemost in the direction of travel and the open end is rearmost so thatthe line is sequentially unlooped and leaves the bag during the motion.

11. A device as in claim 10 where the stop member has at least onespike.

12. A device as in claim 10, further including gripping means positionedexternally on the bag adjacent the weighted end.

13. A device as in claim 10, further including a hook on the free end ofthe line.

14. A device as in claim 12, further including a hook on the line at aset distance from the weight and adapted to be connected to the grippingmeans to form a loop whereby a person in distress can secure himself byforming the loop about his body.

15. A device as in claim 12, where the gripping means includes a strapmember and a spring for maintaining the strap member in an openoperative position.

1. A device to assist in manually throwing a line for life saving andthe like comprising: an elOngated bag, having an opening, made of aflexible material; a length of line capable of being stored in shortloops within the bag adjacent the bag opening, and fastened at thebottom of the bag; a weighted member relatively heavier than the bagbeing arranged close to the bottom of the bag to assist in the throwingbalance of the bag, and a soft buoyant member interposed between thebottom of the bag and the weight thereby the bag is thrown so that theweighted end is foremost in the direction of travel and the open end isrearmost so that the line is sequentially unlooped and leaves the bagduring the motion.
 2. A device as in claim 1, further including afastener attached to the bag adjacent the open end for closing the bagfor storage.
 3. A device as in claim 1, further including gripping meanspositioned externally on the bag adjacent the weighted end.
 4. A deviceas in claim 1, further including a hook on the free end of the line. 5.A device as in claim 2, further including a stop device on the line toprevent the line from leaving the bag when the fastener closes the bag.6. A device as in claim 3, further including a hook on the line at a setdistance from the weight and adapted to be connected to the grippingmeans to form a loop whereby a person in distress can secure himself byforming the loop about his body.
 7. A device as in claim 3, where thegripping means includes a strap member and a spring for maintaining thestrap member in an open loop position for easy grabbing.
 8. A device asin claim 5, where the stop device is a ring.
 9. A device as in claim 5,where the stop device has at least one spike member.
 10. A device toassist in manually throwing a line for life saving and the likecomprising: an elongated bag, having an opening, made of a flexiblematerial; a length of line capable of being stored in short loops withinthe bag adjacent the bag opening, and fastened at the bottom of the bag;a weighted member relatively heavier than the bag being arranged closeto the bottom of the bag to assist in the throwing balance of the bag; afastener adapted to close the bag; a stop member attached to the lineand capable of preventing the line from being withdrawn when the bag isclosed by the fastener, and a soft buoyant member interposed between thebottom of the bag and the weight, the opening dimension of the bag beingno larger than 25 times the line diameter, whereby the bag is thrown sothat the weighted end is foremost in the direction of travel and theopen end is rearmost so that the line is sequentially unlooped andleaves the bag during the motion.
 11. A device as in claim 10 where thestop member has at least one spike.
 12. A device as in claim 10, furtherincluding gripping means positioned externally on the bag adjacent theweighted end.
 13. A device as in claim 10, further including a hook onthe free end of the line.
 14. A device as in claim 12, further includinga hook on the line at a set distance from the weight and adapted to beconnected to the gripping means to form a loop whereby a person indistress can secure himself by forming the loop about his body.
 15. Adevice as in claim 12, where the gripping means includes a strap memberand a spring for maintaining the strap member in an open operativeposition.